Siting bird boxes

[HeyWayne]

A few weeks ago my Mum gave me a couple of bird boxes that some dude who comes into her shop (local charity shop) had made - they apparently were being made for the RSPB, but they'd changed their minds/specification and he had a surplus as a result.

Anyway, I have two - one has a little hole for the birds to enter, the other has a "slot". I'm told, one's for Robins and the other for Blue Tits.

Only thing is, I have no idea where to put them. There's no real point in me siting them in the garden - there are plenty of birds nesting in the bushes, trees and roofs all around. I ideally would like to place them on the plot, but I cannot see anywhere obvious to fix them. I have fence posts all around teh plot, but they're quite exposed and only 3 ft high. The apple tree I have is not very big and again is quite exposed.

I've looked on the RSPB website, but they only state the somewhat obvious (and seem to focus on gardens) - on sheds,fences etc. None of which I have on the plot.

Anyone have any ideas? Seems an awful shame to just have them sat in the boot of my car...

[Nicos]

I'd be interested in this too Wayne...
There's quite a bit to consider isn't there- such as N/S W/E facing, shade, nearby branches to perch on. height from the ground etc etc.

We've put up a bat box ( that had a slit) high up in a tree- and I hope that it's OK facing West.

No doubt time will tell, but I'd rather not lose another season if I've got it wrong

[smallblueplanet]

Nicos there's already a thread about siting bat boxes here.

Heres the RSPB advice on siting nest boxes HW.

Also this link has lots more info for helping birds. http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/index.asp

[Nicos]

Thanks for all that SBP- no idea how I missed that thread!

[Nicos]

I suppose there's always a 'down side' to helping nature...

HOW BAD IS A HORNET STING

[smallblueplanet]

Thanks for all that SBP- no idea how I missed that thread!

So is your bat box in the right place? Is it a summer or winter box?

Can't bring myself to look at your hornet sting link, I'm squeemish and hornets are indeed BIG f***ers!

[HeyWayne]

Thanks for the links sbp, I had already read that info on the RSPB site, but still useful. Looks like I'm going to just have to put them up and see...

[Nicos]

Tis a winter box- and needs to face south so I need to move it round the tree a bit more.
I did get the height right though!!!

Best look for a summer box now then, otherwise we won't ever see them!

There are no photos of hornets SBP - just a hornet nest in a tit box!

[smallblueplanet]

Okay, I've had a look now Nicos - wow very impressive. The only hornets nest I've seen before was abroad and they'd taken over an 'electricity box' that was on a pole. They're heeuuge things!